FAQ: Health for dogs

Keep them in their original packaging at room temperature or as the label directs, away from sunlight, moisture and frost. All products must be out of reach of children and animals, because chewable tablets taste good to dogs and eating many of them can cause poisoning.

It is not recommended. After the expiry date the manufacturer no longer guarantees that the product will work and be safe, so the dog may be left without protection against ticks or fleas. Hand in expired products for disposal and buy new ones.

Do not flush medicines and antiparasitic products down the drain or put them in ordinary rubbish, as they can pollute the environment, and some active ingredients are especially harmful to aquatic life. Many pharmacies accept unused medicines — ask at your nearest pharmacy or vet clinic.

Be suspicious of unusual packaging, mistakes in the text, a missing package leaflet, no batch number or expiry date, an unusual colour or smell of the pipettes, and a seller nobody knows anything about. Buy from reputable sellers, and if in doubt show the pack to a vet.

In bigger packs the price per pipette or tablet is often lower, but consider the expiry date and whether the dog's weight will change, especially if it is still growing. If the dog moves into another weight range, the remaining doses will no longer suit it.

Wash the bed, blankets and fabrics at the highest temperature allowed, clean and disinfect bowls and toys with an animal-safe product as instructed, then rinse them well. Some pathogens, such as parvovirus, are very hardy, so a vet may recommend a specific disinfectant.

The main protection is the vaccinations a vet recommends, with boosters on time. Also avoid sick dogs, do not let your dog sniff other dogs' faeces, do not share bowls with unknown dogs, and keep up hygiene in boarding kennels and training grounds.

Kennel cough is a contagious respiratory infection that dogs catch easily where many dogs gather. It typically causes a dry, hacking cough, sometimes as if something were stuck in the throat. There are vaccines against some of the causes, especially useful before boarding kennels or shows. If your dog is coughing, see a vet.

It depends on the vaccine: some are repeated every year, others less often, as the vaccine maker and the vet advise. An annual visit is still worthwhile, because the vet examines the dog and reviews its vaccination and parasite protection plan.

Mild lethargy, a slight fever or soreness at the injection site for a day or two after vaccination are fairly common and usually pass on their own. But if the face swells, hives appear, or the dog vomits, struggles to breathe or collapses, see a vet immediately — it may be an allergic reaction.

Follow the clinic's instructions on when the dog must last eat and drink, and tell the vet about all medicines and supplements it takes. Prepare a quiet, warm place to rest in advance, plus a protective collar or recovery suit if needed, and some absorbent pads.

After neutering or spaying a dog's energy needs often fall, so it gains weight more easily. Many owners switch to a food for neutered dogs or reduce portions, and weigh the dog regularly. Discuss the right diet and other changes with a vet.

Vets sometimes use activated charcoal in certain poisonings, but it is not always suitable and can even be dangerous. Do not give it yourself — first call a vet and say what the dog ate. They will tell you what to do.

Ticks like tall grass, shrubs and leaf litter, so mow the grass regularly, rake up leaves and trim bushes near paths and the dog's resting spots. Limit wild animals' access to the yard. This lowers the risk but does not replace the dog's parasite protection.

Each product protects only for a certain time, stated on the pack. If you give the next dose late, there is a gap when the dog is unprotected and can catch tick-borne diseases or fleas. Note the dates and keep to the interval on the label and given by the vet.

In hot weather or after exercise a dog naturally drinks more. But if a dog drinks and urinates more than usual for a longer time, it may be a sign of kidney, hormonal or other disease. Tell a vet about it — they may suggest blood and urine tests.

An old dog more often needs non-slip rugs, ramps or steps, an orthopaedic bed, a support harness, absorbent pads or nappies, and sometimes supplements or medicines recommended by a vet. Which products suit depends on the dog's condition, so they are worth discussing at a check-up.

Many vets advise more frequent check-ups for senior dogs than for young ones, often every six months, because diseases develop faster in old age. Blood tests and dental and joint checks may be recommended. If you notice changes, do not wait for the routine visit.

See a vet if an old dog starts drinking more, eating less or losing weight, or develops lumps, a cough, difficulty getting up, incontinence, bad breath, disorientation or changed behaviour. Many of these changes can be eased if noticed in time.

Product pages on zoogidas.lt show price history, so you can see how the product's price has changed and whether the current price is lower than usual. This is handy if you buy protection regularly and want to stock up before tick season.